GROWING LEGUMES IN DRY AREAS 335 



not germinate in cold soil. Under dry conditions the 

 seed should invariably be sown with the drill. As a rule 

 the rows should be far enough apart to admit of easy cul- 

 tivation. As the varieties named are vigorous growers, 

 the vines will almost meet under many conditions of 

 growth. The amount of seed to sow will seldom exceed 

 one peck per acre. The seed should be buried about 2 

 inches or lower if moisture is farther down. 



Care of the crop. It may be harrowed before the 

 crop is above the surface. In some instances the plants 

 may be harrowed after they are above the ground, but 

 more safely with the weeder. The cultivation should be 

 about the same as that given to corn (see p. 280). 



Harvesting for hay. The cow pea furnishes excel- 

 lent hay, but it is slow in curing. The hay may be cut 

 with the mower, but better with the pea harvester. It 

 is best cured in small coils. Dry areas are particularly 

 favorable to the curing of the hay. When cured as 

 described it is particularly valuable for feeding purposes, 

 being unusually palatable and nutritious. As the vines 

 tangle some, the hay is not always easy to handle. 



Harvesting for seed. As the cow pea ripens its seed 

 very unevenly, the common method adopted to secure 

 seed was that of hand-picking. The process is slow and 

 costly. Another method is to harvest the crop when 

 ripe, and thresh it as the common pea is threshed. 



GROWING SWEET CLOVER 



In northern areas sweet clover has never been given 

 that attention which its good qualities should give to it. 

 In several of the states, this comparatively harmless plant 

 is proscribed as a noxious weed. Notwithstanding, the 

 following may be said in regard to this much despised 

 and much maligned plant: (1) It will grow on soils too 

 low in the elements of fertility for the successful growth 

 of many other plants. (2) It will grow on soils strong- 



